The Newmarket Ave Pollinator Pathway Project

Posted June 21, 2023

A group of people standing in front of a house — Residents from Newmarket Ave and JRS’s Lynda Rybinski (centre) and Hilary Todhunter (right).

The Newmarket Ave Pollinator Pathway is a group comprised of residents from Toronto’s East End-Danforth neighbourhood. In late May, JRS’s Jessica Hutcheon, Lynda Rybinski and Hilary Todhunter met to review their gardens and talk about the opportunities and constraints of each and the site-specific conditions that would need to be considered when preparing and planting a pollinator garden.

The group received a 2023 grant from PollinateTO and aims to create sustainable habitat for pollinators in East York, Toronto. The project will be undertaken in seven front-facing gardens on Newmarket Ave. between Westlake Ave. and Chisholm Ave. Some households participating will enhance their existing gardens with native pollinator-friendly plants, while others will convert partial or full lawn spaces to pollinator gardens.

JRS is thrilled to volunteer our time for the project and offer horticultural and design advice to the residents on Newmarket Ave. We will check back on the project throughout the summer months.

Since 2019, PollinateTO has supported 150 community-led projects and more than 400 gardens, advancing the principles and priorities of the City of Toronto’s Pollinator Protection Strategy and Biodiversity Strategy. Grants of up to $5,000 are available to support community-led projects.